Tips for Keeping Your Drains Clog-Free

10/30/17

A clogged drain can easily be a gross and annoying problem. Clogging can cause drains to back up and to not function properly. The good news, however, is that it is often simple to keep a drain from clogging, thereby allowing you to not have to worry about this problem at all.

By following a few simple tips, you can greatly reduce the chances that you will have to deal with a clogged drain in the near future.

Utilize a Lint Catcher

One of the most common types of drain blockages is a washing machine drain blockage. Worst of all, this is a type of blockage that is likely to lead to a back-up.

Washing machine drain blockages are typically caused by lint and stray pieces of clothing that accidentally get sucked into the drain hose of your washing machine. There, they travel to the drain and, over time, can cause blockages.

Fortunately, you can keep this from happening by adding a simple lint trap to your washing machine. These traps will capture lint and other debris before it has time to make its way to your drain. All you have to do is clear out the trap from time to time. As a result, your washing machine drain should stay free and clear of blockages.

Install a Garbage Disposal

The kitchen sink is another common source of drain blockages in the home. One of the common culprits is particles of food that have gone down the drain. Once inside the drain, the waste builds up quickly, leading to blockages, bad odors and other problems.

To prevent sink blockages from happening, you can opt for a garbage disposal, which will shred waste into small enough pieces so that it won’t cause blockages. If you can’t afford a garbage disposal, a drain strainer is a good alternative, or you can be more proactive about not letting food waste escape down your drain.

Make Good Use of Hot Water

In addition to installing a drain strainer or a garbage disposal, another potential remedy for those sink drain clogs is to regularly run hot water through your drains.

The hot water will help to prevent the buildup of grease and other potentially clogging materials. This process can also help with hard water deposits.

A few times a week, make the water as hot as possible and allow it to run freely down your drain for a few minutes.

Be Careful About What You Allow in Your Drain

Be careful about what you allow down your drains. For the best protection for your drains, only allow water to enter your drain.

Even if you decide to allow other things into your drain, be sure to avoid known drain-cloggers, such as grease and oils, and any type of cement or other rough material, and harsh, non-professional drain cleaning products, which often worsen existent problems instead of making them better, grease and oils. Even small amounts of these things can cause problems for your drains.

Following these simple tips can greatly help you to avoid clogged drains. However, even with the best care and attention, drains can still become clogged.

Whether your drain gets clogged due to negligence or just because of normal age and use, remember that you can always call on plumbing professionals to assist you with those clogs and to help you prevent them in the future.

For the best and most affordable help available, do not hesitate to contact our friendly experts at HELP. We will be glad to assist you with all of your drain and general plumbing issues so your drains are always in great shape.

Posted in: Plumbing